Spartans with Best Finish Ever at IIAC Championships

PELLA, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Women’s Golf team fought through tough conditions all weekend to finish in sixth place at the 2012 Iowa Conference Championships. Over the four rounds, spanning the past two weekends, the Spartans shot a +362 over par, 1514. The top finisher for UD was Lauren Smith (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) at 347 (+59) in 13th place.

As a team, UD improved by 62 shots compared to their 2011 score at the IIAC Championships. The sixth place finish is the best for the Spartans since the Iowa Conference began the Women’s Golf Tournament in 1982. Smith’s 13th place finish is the lowest for a Spartans since Amy Harris won the tournament in 1983.

Nikole Blewett (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) was the second best finisher for UD in 28th place with 383 (+95) shots. Alisha Terry (South Jordan, Utah/Bingham) finished 29th with a 388 (+100). Wrapping up the scoring for the Spartans was Dionna Jensen (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar) at 408 (+120) in 34th place. Laurn Allen (Plymouth, Ill./Southeastern) shot a 414 (+126) over the four rounds.

The Knights (307-312-347-364--1330), who weathered cold, windy conditions for a second straight day on a difficult Bos Landen layout, outdistanced Luther (317-318-374-367--1376) by 46 strokes, which ranks as the third-largest margin of victory in championship history. Simpson (328-347-364-368--1407) took third followed by Loras (334-331-375-374--1414) and Central (332-331-371-399-1433). Dubuque (352-363-399-400--1514), Coe (357-356-405-408--1526) and Buena Vista (371-365-439-429--1604) rounded out the field.

Simpson's Jennifer Gaffney fired a final-round 86 to finish at 324 overall and captured medalist and IIAC Golfer of the Year honors by two strokes over Loras' Abby Potts. Potts rebounded from a 94 Friday with the low round of the day Saturday with an 80. Central's Ashley Smith and 2010 medalist Kelsi Sawatzky tied at 330, but Smith took third place via a cardback tiebreaker.

Wartburg head coach Monica Severson was named the 2012 Iowa Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year after leading the Knights to their eighth title in nine years. It is the fourth Coach of the Year award for Severson in women's golf (2008, 2010, 2011).